Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: InterpolAgent
I have a real eclectic taste, so there isn't anything I don't like. But my main preference is garage rock and also stuff from Britain. Some bands I like are The Stokes, Interpol, Radiohead, Coldplay, The White Stripes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Cars, etc.... I do realize they're both different, but as for your opinion, which of the two would be better overall.

Thanks for the replies...

not a question we can answer for you at all.

I love my LP, and I know people who love their strat.

Play them both; they're VERY different. They're also both versatile enough that if you pick the one you like, you'll never need another guitar.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
I have a strat, and I like it a lot. It has great tone (although I have Lace Sensors, and not standard strat pickups). I can play Floyd to Metallica on it, as well as some blues.

Saving for an Ibanez JS1200. rool;

I've seriously considering pulling one of my pickups and putting in a Lace. Seems like you're pretty happy with yours, eh?

 

[DeMeo]

pick the one that you feel more comfortable holding and playing.
It's kinf of hard to pick one when you're first starting, becuase you really don't have a style yet.
After you've been lpaging a while, go try different ones.

the right one will pick you.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: InterpolAgent
I have a real eclectic taste, so there isn't anything I don't like. But my main preference is garage rock and also stuff from Britain. Some bands I like are The Stokes, Interpol, Radiohead, Coldplay, The White Stripes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Cars, etc.... I do realize they're both different, but as for your opinion, which of the two would be better overall.

Thanks for the replies...

strat, then. none of those bands have particularly meaty guitar tones, so the strat is gonna be what you're after.

that said, a, deluxe american ash strat with a humbucker sounds HUGE. basically a les paul that doesn't play like garbage. see, even if you want a les paul, there's still a strat that does it better.

never tried that guitar... I think i look for one to play on later this week....then I will have to kill you for saying the LP sounds like garbage

He didn't say 'sound like garbage' he said 'play like garbage'.

Either way he's full of crap, though for a while about 5 years ago I saw quite a few substandard LPs in guitar stores (cracked paint and binding on brand new guitars, etc).

If you like LPs, you like 'em, if you don't, you probably hate them more than an LP player hates strats.

 

[causearuckus]

I like the tone and sustain of a hollow or semi-hollow body. An Ibanez Artcore is a great guitar and a decent price. Go to a Guitar Center or Sam Ash or something and try many different guiatrs until you find one you like. Use the same amp and levels while trying all of them na d use one the most nearly resemmbles the amp you own or are going to purchase.

 

[broon]

I have both. My strat is a HSS so I can get different sounds with it. The neck is easier to play and it's lighter. HOWEVER, the LP still has a sound and sustain you can't get with a strat (partly because of the set neck). Plus it looks so much cooler.

 

[HokieESM]

Hmmm. do you know how to play guitar? Both an American standard (or any of the American-made) Strats and the GIBSON (not Epiphone) Les Pauls are rather pricey. I tend not to recommend someone go out and plunk down $750+ on a guitar (and you should drop another $200 on an amp if you're going for a guitar that nice) if you don't know how to play. Guitar is one of those things that a lot of people "try" to play, and they end up sitting under their bed after about six months (of course, some people end up loving it and playing it for years).

As far as my personal recommendation, either myself or former roommates have owned lots. I've had a strat and a tele... and a roommate had a custom shop les paul (incidently, I got rid of all my electrics and now have four acoustics--go figure). They make distinctly different sounds... clean AND distorted (note that a lot of music you hear in the bands you described are played through effects pedals). Les Pauls tend to be pricey--the "studio" will run you $800+ (and i'd seriously recommend putting different pickups in one). On the other hand, you might could find a decent American Strat for $650 or so. Personal recommendation: look for a reasonably priced American strat or tele (the "fat" tele with a humbucker-single combination might be a good compromise--especially since you're new to guitars, the hardtail might be nice). Don't spend a fortune--and if you can, buy used (but not abused).

Also, you might ask for some recommendation on amps--that makes almost as much of a difference as the guitar itself. Good luck and have some fun with it!

 

[3chordcharlie]

Actually, except for very tight budgets (in which case the guitar needs to be as good as possible, screw the amp), I would suggest spending about as much your amp as on your guitar, as a ballpark figure.

Bad pickups are one thing on a guitar, but poor playability can't be overcome by an amp.

 

[frankie38]

Gibson Les Paul!

 

[Fritzo]

That's like saying "which is better, a hammer or a screwdriver?"

You'll need to play both and see which one you like better. Here's some characteristics:

Fender Strat- Narrow, unfinished neck. Low frets. Single coil pickups (you can get a humbucker bridge pickup as an option). Light body. Known for their clean, crisp sound.

Les Paul- Wide, finished neck. High frets. Dual humbucker pickups. VERY heavy solid body. Known for rich sound and sustain.

I like the LP's smoother neck, and the humbuckers IMO have a better tone (especially with distortion), and I like the weight. The Strat's neck is too narrow for me, but my hands look like a bunch of bananas

You have to make the call on your own though.

 

[Gibson486]

might want to check out a Gibson SG also (or Epiphone, whatever your budget is). I have an Epiphone SG. I like everything about it, except the kneck. The guitar has too much value to me personally for me to sell it, though...so I am svaing up for a 52 tele reissue.

 

[Fritzo]

OK, stop with the PM's. Here's my baby:

'74 Les Paul Black Beauty- All original

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
I have a strat, and I like it a lot. It has great tone (although I have Lace Sensors, and not standard strat pickups). I can play Floyd to Metallica on it, as well as some blues.

Saving for an Ibanez JS1200. rool;

I've seriously considering pulling one of my pickups and putting in a Lace. Seems like you're pretty happy with yours, eh?

Yeah, they are very versatile. I've got a blue at the neck, red in the middle, and gold at the bottom. Very nice sound, and they balance each other out very well. Its tougher to find them, now, but they can be had used fairly easily.

 

[CChaos]

I prefer Telecasters myself. Of course I don't have an electric anymore, but if I ever decide to get another it will be this one in Sunburst.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
OK, stop with the PM's. Here's my baby:

'74 Les Paul Black Beauty- All original

What'd you say your address was?

 

[JDub02]

I've played LP's, Strat's, and SG's .. LP is my preference.

 

[CptObvious]

IMO, the Strat has better clean tones and the Les Paul sounds better with the distortion up. The Strat is more trebly and the LP sounds thicker.

They feel differently: a Strat is lighter and contoured, and an LP is smaller and thicker. Also the Strat has a longer neck (same scale as an acoustic guitar). The LP is easier to do bends on but the frets on the Strat are spread further apart so it's a little easier to play the high notes.

For the type of music you like I'd go with a Telecaster :thumbsup: It's more similar to the Strat than an LP but it also has a more 'solid' tone than the Strat. The Strat's tremolo gives it sort of an airy, natural spring-reverb vibe, but the Tele is solid in the bridge so it's more in-your-face like an LP>

 

[Platypus]

btw when you A/B these guitars again, find a new tube amp to plug into. you really need harmonic distortion to hear them shine

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Fritzo
OK, stop with the PM's. Here's my baby:

'74 Les Paul Black Beauty- All original

What'd you say your address was?

I'm that house down the street with the electrified razor wire. You know, the one that trains the attack pit bulls.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: InterpolAgent
I have a real eclectic taste, so there isn't anything I don't like. But my main preference is garage rock and also stuff from Britain. Some bands I like are The Stokes, Interpol, Radiohead, Coldplay, The White Stripes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Cars, etc.... I do realize they're both different, but as for your opinion, which of the two would be better overall.

Thanks for the replies...

strat, then. none of those bands have particularly meaty guitar tones, so the strat is gonna be what you're after.

that said, a, deluxe american ash strat with a humbucker sounds HUGE. basically a les paul that doesn't play like garbage. see, even if you want a les paul, there's still a strat that does it better.

never tried that guitar... I think i look for one to play on later this week....then I will have to kill you for saying the LP sounds like garbage

i didn't say they sound like garbage, i said they play like garbage. they sound just fine, in fact that was my point, that an ash-bodied strat with a humbucker sounds great because it sounds like the LP. but i've never played a les paul that didn't feel like playing a bad acoustic compared to a stratocaster or telecaster. also, gibson's have shorter scale necks that leave the strings with less tension, so they bend sharp when you play them like a man. add that to their legendary tuning problems and you have a nightmare instrument, and it's just not worth it when you can get the tone without the hassle out of a strat.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i didn't say they sound like garbage, i said they play like garbage. they sound just fine, in fact that was my point, that an ash-bodied strat with a humbucker sounds great because it sounds like the LP. but i've never played a les paul that didn't feel like playing a bad acoustic compared to a stratocaster or telecaster. also, gibson's have shorter scale necks that leave the strings with less tension, so they bend sharp when you play them like a man. add that to their legendary tuning problems and you have a nightmare instrument, and it's just not worth it when you can get the tone without the hassle out of a strat.

Legendary tuning problems?

Compared to the classic strat vibrato?

You have to be joking

You can get great sound out of a strat, but a bolted neck 25-1/2" scale instrument will never sound like an LP, no matter what it's made of or what kind of pickups you put in it. (An LP will never sound like a strat, either).

 

[step-dawg]

Originally posted by: InterpolAgent
Does anyone here know about electric guitars? I'd like to get one but I can't decide. What's your take on the sound of the Stratocaster or the Les Paul?

And how come I never see deals on instruments? If there are any, I'd appreciate a word on 'em.

Do you have a budget for how much you want to spend? Cuz even within just the categories of strat or LP, there are tons of choices at different price ranges. Also, are you considering other brands too?

Currently I play a Les Paul Special, Epiphone Les Paul Standard, Fender Jaguar, and just purchased an Ibanez Jet king to mess around with. Personally I find the Les Paul's to be a little more versatile than the Jaguar, but the Jag definately gets some cool tones out of it. But if I ever only could bring one guitar to a show or something, it would probably be the LP just cuz I can get the crunch i need and back it off and get a decent clean sound. I also have an old MIM Strat from way back when. My first electric actually. I loved playing that but prefer LP's now.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: InterpolAgent
I have a real eclectic taste, so there isn't anything I don't like. But my main preference is garage rock and also stuff from Britain. Some bands I like are The Stokes, Interpol, Radiohead, Coldplay, The White Stripes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Cars, etc.... I do realize they're both different, but as for your opinion, which of the two would be better overall.

Thanks for the replies...

strat, then. none of those bands have particularly meaty guitar tones, so the strat is gonna be what you're after.

that said, a, deluxe american ash strat with a humbucker sounds HUGE. basically a les paul that doesn't play like garbage. see, even if you want a les paul, there's still a strat that does it better.

never tried that guitar... I think i look for one to play on later this week....then I will have to kill you for saying the LP sounds like garbage

i didn't say they sound like garbage, i said they play like garbage. they sound just fine, in fact that was my point, that an ash-bodied strat with a humbucker sounds great because it sounds like the LP. but i've never played a les paul that didn't feel like playing a bad acoustic compared to a stratocaster or telecaster. also, gibson's have shorter scale necks that leave the strings with less tension, so they bend sharp when you play them like a man. add that to their legendary tuning problems and you have a nightmare instrument, and it's just not worth it when you can get the tone without the hassle out of a strat.

You should start your post with IMO, because IMO Stats sound tinny and have a limp tone. Plus the convex curve on the neck keeps making my fingers slip off. No room to play.

As for tuning problem, yeah, Gibson tuning machines stink. I put Grovers on everything. Fender's tuners aren't so hot either though.

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: Tylanner
Isn't the Strat the hendrix guit?

Whats Jimmy Page's? I pick that one.

Google is my friend

I pick the Les Paul VIA Jimmy Page!!

<--- Wearing a Jimmy Page shirt.

Anyway... If you are still a beginner don't buy a Gibson, but go Epiphone, as Gibsons would be wayyy to expensive. And Tylanner, Jimmy had many guitars, Gibson does sell a copy of his custom Les Paul, but he also played a double-neck SG, most famously during Stairway. As well as other guitars, including another Les Paul.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: cobalt

Originally posted by: Tylanner
Isn't the Strat the hendrix guit?

Whats Jimmy Page's? I pick that one.

Google is my friend

I pick the Les Paul VIA Jimmy Page!!

<--- Wearing a Jimmy Page shirt.

Anyway... If you are still a beginner don't buy a Gibson, but go Epiphone, as Gibsons would be wayyy to expensive. And Tylanner, Jimmy had many guitars, Gibson does sell a copy of his custom Les Paul, but he also played a double-neck SG, most famously during Stairway. As well as other guitars, including another Les Paul.

...and a couple of Telecasters (the whole first LZ album was recorded with one), and a Danelectro.

BTW- That Page Les Paul copy is like $13000...not in my price range heheh.